title: Inhibition of HCV 5'-NTR and core expression by a small hairpin RNA delivered by a histone gene carrier, HPhA.
abstract: siRNA (small interfering RNA) interference represents an exciting new technology that could have therapeutic applications for the treatment of viral infections. However, a major challenge in the use of siRNA as a therapeutic agent is the development of a suitable delivery system. We demonstrated that a new non-viral transgene carrier, recombinant archaeal histone from the hyperthermophile Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 (HPhA), can transfect short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expressing plasmids into HL-7702 cells to inhibit the expression of HCV 5'NTR and Core protein and mRNA. Plasmids Psilencirle transfected by HPhA inhibited the expression of HCV 5'-NTR and Core protein and mRNA in HL-7702 cells. The transfection efficiency of HPhA in HL-7702 cells was not affected by 10% fetal calf serum (FCS). HPhA exhibited effects of transfection without apparent toxicity, and with high affinity for DNA. This suggests that HPhA may be useful for RNAi-based gene therapy in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Phase I Clinical Trial Unit, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
authors.forename: Yanhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shumei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Junqi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niu
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D017931:DNA Primers; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D006657:Histones; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering
keywords: HPhA; RNA interference; gene therapy; hepatitis C virus; small hairpin RNA